PCE4030

The politics of police accountability

(ART)

Colleen Lewis

12 points + 2-hour seminar per week + First semester + Caulfield

Synopsis: Factors impacting on the effectiveness of police accountability, in particular on external, independent civilian oversight bodies. Formal obligations of the police to government, police to civilian oversight body, oversight body to government or parliament and government to the people. The power of the police, the nature of police-government relationships and the nature of the relationship between governments and police oversight bodies. Power and the way in which it is exercised are used as organising concepts.

Assessment: Research paper (5000 words): 50% + Research essay (2500 words): 30% + Seminar presentation: 20%